Is “Porn Addiction” Real? 

Few would argue against this question if they’d ever met Vladimir Villisov. In 2006, this Russian man specially designed his own coffin to accommodate his vast collection of pornography. He literally lined his casket with hundreds of pornographic images. "The girls in those magazines have been my companions for years," said Villisov, 66, "and I want them to accompany me to the next life."

You think Vladimir may have had a bit of an issue with pornography? Most could easily argue that there’s a pretty good chance he was “addicted” to it. But what exactly do we mean when we say this? 

Let’s begin with a definition: Pornography use becomes an addiction when the user becomes obsessed with the behavior, spending large of amounts of time online, even in the face of personal and professional consequences (e.g., relationship or financial or work-related problems).

From a clinical perspective, pornography addiction would involve at least five of the following:

• Frequent preoccupation with pornography 
• Frequent engagement with pornography over a longer period than intended 
• Repeated efforts to reduce, control, or stop the behavior 
• A great deal of time spent in activities necessary for viewing porn or recovering from its effects 
• Engagement in the behavior when expected to fulfill other obligations 
• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of the behavior 
• The need to increase the intensity or frequency of the behavior in order to achieve the desired effect
• Restlessness or irritability if unable to engage in the behavior 

On top of any combination of five from this list would be the recurrent failure to resist impulses to engage in viewing pornography.

Whether you fit the diagnosable criteria for being addicted to pornography or you simply “struggle” with it, there is hope - especially in God's Word – as this reading plan will reveal. It's why Paul, in Romans says, Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness" (Romans 6:19). Freedom from a struggle with porn can be radically transformative. 

Whether you fit all the qualifications of porn addiction or only some, God wants to restore your mind and transform your desires. You are taking a great step towards healing by coming to scripture to get help. 

Today, let God’s Word remind you of what you have with Christ’s power - total and complete freedom!